[New Jobs] Becoming a Guide for Life Juniors... 'Life Coach'

Started as a Tennis Training Manual in the 1970s
Now Applied to Life and Job Training
Over 30,000 Professional Coaches in Korea

Editor's NoteWith super-aging and ultra-low birth rates, along with the advent of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, new changes are occurring in the world of jobs. We introduce the world of new professions, 'New Jobs,' which open paths for new challenges in working life or a second act in life.

We are truly living in an era of anxiety. As of 2021, South Korea's depression prevalence rate was 36.8%, ranking first among OECD countries. This means that 4 out of 10 citizens have either already suffered from depression or frequently experience feelings of depression.

The Seoul Youth Policy Expo held last month. It consisted of booths such as youth policy experience, career special lectures, and mentoring by current professionals.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

How can anxiety be relieved? One must set clear life goals to regain psychological stability. A 'Life coach' is a new profession that serves as a guide for those seeking a solid foundation in these unstable times.

Coaches Are Not Just in Sports

The coach started with tennis training methods.
[Image source=Pixabay]

The term 'Coaching' originally comes from tennis. Timothy Gallwey, captain of Harvard University's tennis team, first introduced this sports education method in 1971 to enhance the performance of college athletes.

Since then, a 'coaching boom' has spread across various sectors in the United States, including business and entertainment. In 1992, a specialized coaching training institution called 'Coach University' was established, and in 2003, the 'International Coach Federation' was launched, establishing coaching as a respectable profession.

In the U.S., where business consulting is well developed, 'business coaching' is particularly popular. Coaches are introduced mainly to improve the job skills of corporate executives and employees, and most of these coaches are employed by companies.

A New Method of Developing Competence That Helps Clients Find Their Own Goals

The coach was differentiated from consulting in terms of 'proactiveness.'
[Image source=Pixabay]

A coach refers to the process of 'helping clients set and achieve their own goals.' This is mainly done through one-on-one conversations with clients to establish goals and inspire passion. At first glance, it may seem similar to consulting or counseling, but there is a decisive difference.

Consulting essentially provides a 'scientific solution' to the immediate problem. Inevitably, the client who receives the solution takes a passive role. In contrast, coaching emphasizes the client's active problem-solving ability. Counseling is a psychological methodology that deals with emotional issues, but coaching covers all areas of life, including sports, work, career, and child development.

Coaching experts argue that the importance of coaching has increased in the 21st century. The Korea Youth Coaching Center stated, "Society is changing into a horizontal structure where individual abilities and collaboration are more valued than a single leader," emphasizing that "coaching is important as a competence development method that stresses △self-directed practice △smooth interpersonal relationships △and securing self-esteem."

A Still Unfamiliar Profession Domestically... Part-time Coaches Increasing Gradually

As a profession with a short history even overseas, coaching is still considered a blue ocean sector in South Korea. However, its growth rate is remarkable. According to the Korea Coach Association, which provides coach training and issues private certifications, the number of coaches in South Korea was only about 300 in 2009 but increased to around 30,000 in just six years.

In the past, Korean coaching professionals were employed by companies to design employee training programs or provided services as invited lecturers. However, as the number of active coaches has increased, more individual instructors are working as part-time coaches, and there are reports of multiple coaches forming corporations together.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.